The referees department of the AIFF has been under the scanner for several seasons now and has received a lot of flak However, this season in particular, coaches and players from the Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League have been vocal about the manner in which referees are appointed and the apparent lack of review in the match officials’ performance.

Colonel Goutam Kar, who also served as deputy general secretary in the AIFF almost a decade back, would be asked to work on the development of referees instead. It remains to be seen if the experienced official accepts to take the new role.

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When Goal contacted Kar to comment on the latest developments, he chose not to respond.